A new study published in The American Journal of Medicine found that regular marijuana use is associated with reduced inflammation, but it does not appear to impact insulin sensitivity.
Researchers at the University of Colorado studied healthy adults aged 21 to 40, comparing those who used marijuana at least weekly for a year to those who had not used it at all in the past year. Cannabis users were randomly assigned to use one of three types of flower over a four-week period: a THC-dominant product (23% THC), a balanced product (10% THC and 8% CBD), or a CBD-dominant product (20% CBD).
Blood samples were analyzed to measure markers of inflammation, including TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, and others, while insulin sensitivity was assessed using the Matsuda Index.
The study found that marijuana users, regardless of the THC:CBD ratio in their product, had significantly lower levels of peripheral inflammation compared to non-users. However, no differences were found between any group when it came to insulin sensitivity.
Researchers concluded that habitual marijuana use may help reduce inflammation in healthy young adults without altering how the body processes insulin.
